Contai police station officer Sunil Sikdar said some 12 members of Mukundapur community puja of Jagannathchowk village of East Midinipur district were taken ill-- eight of them critically-- last night after consuming liquor bought from three local shops during idol immersion.

All of them were today admitted to Contai hospital where four succumbed to this morning. Three critically ill were shifted to SSKM hospital in Kolkata, Mr Sikdar said.

He said the three shops had been sealed and their owners were absconding.